CHAPTER – 2
STATE OF P AND T UNIONS

As the P and T Unions were then functioning in large numbers, each having its own way of putting things and all of them believed in paper warfare – and that too not in collaboration with each other, – they could not consolidate and even there was wheels working within wheels – every union has its internal quarrels and difference not being based on policy, programme and ideology – but in most cases due to personal rivalry there was no end of it. In such environments, the All India Postal and RMS Union, which was one of the biggest organisations in India, met at its annual session of Conference during X-mas of 1939 at Lahore on an invitation from Rai Sahib Jayanti Prasad, the retired Manager, Dead Letter Office, Lahore, due to various reasons; this session had its special significance.

The Government of India had introduced the new scales of pay with effect from 18th July, 1931, totally disregarding the universally accepted principle of equal work. The All India Postal and RMS Union had at its annual session held at Delhi on the 30th and 31st October, 1931, singly made a bold attempt to counter-act the Government’s move for imposition of salary cut and introduction of new scales of pay but could not withstand long Government’s oppression and surrendered. Since then it had been passing resolutions in successive conferences urging grant of old scales of pay to the new entrants. Amongst the other recognized P and T Unions, the Indian Telegraph Association, the All India Telegraph Union and the All India Postmen and Lower Grade Staff Union were the main functioning Unions and all these Unions had also been as usual, in their annual gatherings passing resolutions urging sanction of old scale of pay for the new entrants but the weak and quarrelling leadership failed to make plans and programmes for joint action in the matter. The Lahore session of the Conference had met just after the death of Sri N.C.Sen Gupta who had succeeded Sri Tarapada Mukherjee as General Secretary of the All India Postal and RMS Union at its session at Peshawar held in November, 1929. Mr. M.G.Swaberry who was one of the founders of the All India Postal and RMS Union and had started the Indian Post and Telegraph Union after severing connection with the mother Union, attended this session of the Conference, along with a large contingent of members of his own Union. I remember on my way to Lahore from Calcutta, I had halted at Delhi only to persuade him to attend the session and make a joint attempt to re-amalgamate the Unions. The All India Conference no doubt elected Sri Monmohal Lal Topa as General Secretary of All India Postal and RMS Union but took a bold step and elected Mr. Swaberry as Honorary Secretary of the All India Union in the hope that this will pave the path for unity.

The social, political and economic condition of the country during the period, reflected to a greater extent on the trade union movement, especially of the middle class employees. The rivalry between the Congress and the Muslim League, though in a milder form, reacted upon the activities of the Unions and Associations of the educated middle class employees specially those in Government service and influenced their decisions. The Unions which used to draw inspiration or were under the influence of sectional or of communal organisations, mostly devoted their energy to the cause of the employees belonging to the community or communities in relation to posting, transfer, promotion and recruitment etc. , and how to take the grater share in the cake, though the cake itself was too inadequate to serve all. To these institutions greater causes such as improvement of service conditions, better pay and prospects, etc. became secondary object. The foreign rulers having imperialistic and capitalist outlook with a view to perpetuate their exploitation of the country’s wealth had to depend much upon the divide and rule policy, through secret agencies, were favouring the growth of service associations on the communal and sectional lines. The progressive service Unions and Associations which were struggling hard for developing real trade union sense amongst their members and were fighting out for greater causes had to face insurmountable difficulties in making their way through.
The leftist political organisations which had just begun dealing with general labour welfare and were busy in organizing the ordinary labours and the working class could arrest the growth of communal feelings amongst them, but as they were quite unmindful of the middle class employees’ Unions, they continued to function under the care of the non-trade unionistic political leaders. It is significant that the Telegraph Workmen’s Union and the All India Postmen and Lower Grade Staff Union, were not so much affected by the communal and sectional trend of feelings prevailing in the country, as was the case with the other Unions dominated by the Class III employees. The leadership of the All India Telegraph Union and the Indian Telegraph Association, All India Postal and RMS Union and the Indian Post and Telegraph Union though felt the necessity for greater unity amongst the P and T employees’ movement and although they were getting push from the youngsters, who were post 1931 employees, could not advance the cause. The internecine quarrel and rivalry amongst the leaders, not due to any ideological differences, but mostly on personal grounds and want of proper trade union consciousness amongst the mold of the employees, stood as barricades against united action being taken by the P and T Unions conjointly even on vital issues concerning the workers. The attempts for unity by the employees here and there on each occasion to their ill-luck, proved abortive. The undemocratic constitution of some of the unions also played no less important a part in delaying the growth and expansion of those organisations and their activities in right directions. As to how those undemocratic constitutions stood as a stony rock for years together to foil all attempts for unity move will be discussed later on. Some of the unions, no doubt, had democratic constitutions but due to circumstances already hinted above, could not do much headway towards bringing much needed unity. The gesture shown by the All India Postal and RMS Union conference at Lahore, with very good intention, was therefore, of no avail. Mr. M.G. Swaberry, in spite of his personal inclination as I could study him at the time, could not come forward to accept the offer so generously made to him.

Those who were ardent believers in unity however did not rest here. The war-time unrest which was already visible due to political and bad economic conditions brought about by steady increase in cost of living index, and the wide spread discontentment amongst the post – 1931 young P and T workers are the main factors which continued to strengthen the hands of those who were moving for unity. The records of the different unions will show that within a couple of months, all the unions had to think in terms of organizing joint deputation with the DG P and T, which move in actual sense could be called of laying of foundation stone for building greater unity at a later stage. (To be continued)

P and T Trade Union Movement in India during II World War and thereafter (1939 – 1954)
(B.N.Ghosh)
(This is the book written by Com. Bhupendra Nath Ghosh (Dada Ghosh), the first Secretary General of National Federation of P and T Employees (NFPTE) and one of the leaders of the historic 1946 P and T Strike. Com.N.J.Iyer, former General Secretary, R.III Union, entrusted me to type some copies from the original document during 1990s. I typed two copies and handed over the original and one copy to him, keeping one copy with me. While I was arranging my book shelf, this typed copy came to my notice. I think the book will be interesting and beneficial to the new generation. The book will be serially published by chapter in my blog vannamoodiri.com daily, if possible, since it has to be retyped. )
CHAPTER – 1
SECOND WORLD WAR
It was at 3 O’ clock on the first of September 1939, while I was passing under exuberance of sunshine being profusely in sweat, through the Dalhousie Square, Calcutta, I found men in their hundreds running towards the South West corner of the Square, each procuring a copy of the special issue Amrita Bazar Patrika with bold headlines, “Germany declares war on Poland”. This happened within a couple of days of signing the Russo-German non-aggression pact. In fact, the air was so much charged during those days with war possibilities, that every man in the street was awaiting receipt of such horrible tidings from the West. The Great Britain and France who were pledge bound to Poland to give her protection against all aggression on her, declared war on Germany and the Second World War began. India which was under the control and suzerainty of Great Britain became, as a matter of course, a party to this war. It is not my intention to discuss the political aspects of this war and I, therefore, cautiously refrain from discussing as to whether or not the war was a people’s war or as to whether the war ultimately did deliver the goods to India. As one connected to the Posts and Telegraphs trade union movement having in mind the well-being of the P & T workers and at the same time in employment of Government, my entire study and reading of this eventful period will be in that context only. As to how the average Indian with anti-British feelings received the news of the war between Germany and Great Britain in which Soviet Russia remaining neutral can be well imagined than described. I reached the office of the Provincial Union of the All India Postal and R.M.S.Union, Bengal and Assam Circle at the day’s end and as its General Secretary took it to be my bounden duty to send the following telegram to the Director General of Posts and Telegraphs: “On behalf of entire Postal and RMS employees Bengal and Assam Circle assure full co-operation and loyal service to the Government at the critical juncture and place my own services unreservedly at the disposal of the Govt”.
It can well be imagined than described as to with what feelings the news of a war between Germany and the British people who have been exploiting and ruling over India for nearly 200 years – Russia remaining silent – could be received by a Bengali born in pre-Bengal partition days of 1905 and had seen anti-partition movement, the intensive struggle of the Congress for independence, boycott of British goods and the Bengal youths going to gallows in large numbers for the sake of the country’s cause, could receive. Despite, as one belonging to the most essential service of P and T Department and being at the helm of the Postal and RMS organization of Bengal and Assam, I preferred to send the above telegram, copy of thereof being sent to the 40 branch unions, who in return endorsed my views. This is unique indeed! In sending the telegram my heart and brain refused to work together, but I must candidly confess that there was not an atom of insincerity in me while sending the telegram. Later on it came to light that I was not the singular person to send such assurance of co-operation and loyalty to the Government but the P and T Unions throughout the country had followed suit and within a couple of days of the beginning of the war, the P and T staff throughout the length and breadth of the country had showed their inclination to volunteer for field service. A full scale analysis of the back-ground of the stand we have taken is not possible due to various reasons. In short, we were loyal Government servants and as in duty bound preferred to remain loyal.
Three days after the declaration of war, by Great Britain on Germany, the Governments of Bombay and Bengal issued ordinance permitting 20% and 10% rise in prices of all commodities in their respective provinces so as to make it easy for the Government to make heavy purchases of food stuff and other raw materials necessary in war connection in Calcutta and Bombay markets. The Government of India had in circulation on the day of declaration of war 228 crores of currency notes against which there was a gold reserve of equivalent amount but it will be seen in September, 1945 on the day of closing of war, it had in circulation 1500 crores worth of currency notes against which there was no gold reserve in India but entire reserve had been transferred to British Treasury in London, what was later on known to be India’s Sterling Balance. This measure began to fluctuate the market and therefore the attention of the entire P and T workers specially those in the lower rank and in low pay were diverted from the theatre of war to the stomach problem. The situation, however, did not aggravate so much during the first two years of war but even then the cost of living index had gone up to the extent that the lower middle class workers within the P and T Department or anywhere else found it difficult to meet both ends. The Government of India finished its business by sanctioning dearness allowance at the rate of Rs.1/- for the Postman and Class IV employees only. An important Member of the Parliament connected with the Postal and RMS Union had declared the measure adopted to be unworthy on the part of the Government to sanction such meager allowance, viz. Rs.1/- and beneath the dignity on the part of the employees to accept it. (To be continued).